LOCAL businesses are bracing themselves to take a massive financial hit when the controversial Velothon Wales arrives in Monmouthshire this weekend

The Velothon Wales cycling event, held this Sunday, will force extensive road closures and ‘imprison’ people in their homes, say incensed locals pointing to last year’s disruption.

Monmouth MP David Davies echoed concerns of residents and businesses saying the inconvenience caused far outweighs the supposed £2m windfall the event drums up.

“I am not at all happy about it. It doesn’t bring anything into the local economy in Monmouthshire. This is not going to bring in business for anyone running a pub or a hotel in Monmouthshire – it will mean they miss out on business.”

Despite his concerns, Mr Davies accepted that communication between parties had much improved since last year’s event.

“I recently attended a public meeting in Llanfoist which was addressed by representatives of the Velothon. I accept that there is a much greater willingness this year to talk to people affected and to get out information.

“I am also hopeful that much more flexibility will be shown on the day towards people who need to get in or out of their homes or businesses.

“Having said that the organisers need to be aware that this is going to cause massive inconvenience for a large number of people and financial losses for some businesses.”

Mr Davies added that opposition to the event was borne from genuine concerns, and not an ‘anti-cycling’ sentiment.

“Some of those taking part have insinuated that people with concerns are ‘anti cyclists’ so, for the record, I want to point out to them that I am a cyclist and I use a bike nearly every day in London to get around.

“Ironically, real local cyclists will also be barred from using the roads to cycle - unless they are taking part in the Velothon!”

Mr Davies reported last year of ambulances being unable to respond to calls, and community care workers blocked from getting to elderly people in need of assistance.

“It will cause some inconvenience but hopefully nothing like last year’s chaos. There were some quite horrific stories, but I am quite confident we will not have a repeat of that again.”

Tim Strong, who runs the highly-regarded Glen-yr-Afon and Three Salmons Hotel in Usk, said he was bracing himself for severe disruptions this Sunday.

“From a business point of view it’s a disaster. We do a very good trade on Sundays, and it really affects that. Our bookings are down by over 90 per cent because people have chosen not to travel this weekend. We are talking thousands of pounds lost.

“Sunday is traditionally a very important day for trade in this business. We are usually full up, but this week we have just a handful of bookings.

“We are suffering badly this Sunday. Our costs don’t change. We still have to pay rates, and salaries and everything else. We are talking about £2,000 per hotel.

“The only people who will benefit will be where it starts and finishes, in Cardiff. I can’t see the benefit for any other businesses around here.”

Richard Jones, of the popular Goytre Arms pub, told the Chronicle he disagreed with the claims that the event would bring economic benefits to the area.

“It’s a nightmare, really. We are just going to come in and clean the kitchen, if we can get here in the first place. Four waitresses who were working that day won’t be, so, sadly they’ll lose their wages.

“We had 88 people in for Sunday lunch this weekend just gone, who spent about £16 a head. That’s just lunches, not including other customers. We took £2,280 on Sunday, but we have no bookings for next week. You can’t measure that loss, really.

“Sunday is very lucrative here. We have regulars who can’t come. Even my parents are unable to make it in. It affects people in so many ways, people don’t realise the knock-on effect. They’re shutting the road, and it isn’t even coming past here!

“It doesn’t bring anything to the economy, not for us anyway. I mean, the spectators bring their own sandwiches. If anything, it takes thousands out of the economy,” he said.

Another business owner said he will manage to work around the disruption, but is expecting a steep fall in takings.

Ian McDonald, owner of Abergavenny Garden Centre, said, “We will be open as we can have the old entrance put back in place, which means people can get to us via Llanfoist Bridge.

“I did go to the public meeting, where we were informed, rather than negotiated with. I did suggest a slightly different route, but that fell upon deaf ears.

“We lost a lot of money last year, about £3,500, but that was in June. This year we could lose as much as five or six grand.”

Matt Newman, chief executive of Run 4 Wales, said his organisation was drafted in to help this year’s event run smoothly, after recent success delivering the Cardiff Half Marathon and IAAF Half Marathon Championships.

“With our expertise and local network, we have been able to improve many areas of the event by enhancing existing relationships.

“Detailed consultation has taken place with five local authorities involved along the 140km route, as with all major shareholders involved. Everyone is on the same page regarding the delivery of this exciting event.

“More than 100,000 letters have been sent to residents and businesses, providing detailed road closure information. Many of those worst affected have been contacted in person.

“We are confident many of the concerns raised have been dealt with and that this year’s Velothon will be another fantastic sporting occasion for Wales, and a wonderful experience for the thousands of riders taking part.

“Last year’s event brought an estimated £2m into the local economy, and raised around £500,000 for charity. Riders are travelling from all over the UK to take part. We look forward to an even bigger and better event on May 22.”

Participants in the Velothon are a mix of amateur cyclists, many fundraising for charity, and some of the world’s elite riders taking part in the UCI sanctioned professional road race.

From the capital, riders head to Newport, then on to Usk via Caerleon, turning off into the countryside at Llangibby.

The route heads out of Usk via the Chain Bridge and Nantyderry, towards Llanfoist where riders will take on the gruelling Tumble Climb, before pushing towards Blaenavon and Pontypool, then heading back towards Cardiff through Newbridge, Ystrad Mynach and Caerphilly.

The route from Newport to Usk will be closed from 7am to 3.30pm, and from Usk to Nantderry from 7.30am to 3.30pm. Nantderry to Llanfoist will be shut from 7.30am to 4.30pm, with Llanfoist to Blaenavon from 7.45am to 5.15pm.

Throughout the day, there will be local access northbound between the Cwmbran roundabout and Nantyderry on the A4042. Residents should expect delays between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

There will also be access from Nantyderry southbound to Little Mill, with delays expected between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

There will be no road closure southbound on the A4042 between Little Mill and the Cwmbran roundabout.